Mechanical toy.



T. T. LOWMAN.

MECHANICAL TOY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. I9I6.

LQWJM. Patented Oct. 24,1916.

J AZ i FTC.

cairn ens THOMAS T. LOWMAN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANICAL TOY.

Application filed May 12, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS T. LOWMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Toys, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in mechanical toys, more particularly to that class in which a pair of flexible figures are so mounted as to be actuated by driving mechanism, whereby to impart to them movements approximating those of the human body.

More specifically the device comprises a pair of boxers having pivoted limbs, each figure being fixedly connected with an actuating lever arm provided with a terminal abutment adapted to be thrust and swung with a pendulum-like movement, by means of a controlling wheel having a series of variously arranged pins or the like adapted to intermittently make contact with the abutment terminals of the figure-controlling levers.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view of the invention in elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the casing from the rear, indicated by the line H. H. of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, indicated by the line H1. III. of Fig. 2. Figs. 4. and 5 are sectional detail views, enlarged, of the pivotally mounted supporting bracket for the figure. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view of a portion of the controlling wheel, illustrating the adjustability of the contact pins.

Referring to the drawings, the operative controlling mechanism for the figures is inclosed within a casing or box 2 which may be rectangular, as shown, or of other suit able form, provided with an upper platform 3 and a supporting base 4;. Surrounding the upper portion and platform 3 is a railing 5 representing a ring of a boxing plat form, and which may be supported on suitable posts 6, as desired.

The figures A and B of human form, which are intended to represent boxers, are made of any suitable material, as thin sheet metal or wood or the like, each figure consisting of a main body portion 7 cut in imitative outline. and each having a rigidly Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2a, 1916.

Serial No. 97,192.

connected leg 8 which is fixedly connected by bolts 9 or otherwise with the supporting bracket 10. Said bracket is, as shown, in the form of a depending stirrup having outwardly extending pivoting pins 11, 11, extending in opposite directions and into the edges of the platform at each side of a suitable clearance opening 12. The other leg 13 of each figure is pivotally connected to the main body 7 at 14:, approximating a hip joint, so that the leg 13 thus pivotally connected may freely swing around the pivot backwardly and upwardly, but is controlled by a limiting pin or stud 15 suitably located, as indicated in Fig. 2. Each of the arms 16 is pivoted at 17, one arm being thus pivoted at each side of the body portion, the arms being crooked at the elbow, as shown, so as to approximate the natural position of the human in boxing position, each arm be ing free to swing around the shoulder pivot in either direction.

At one side of the figure extending laterally from the head is a limiting stop or pin 18, against which one of the arms, at one side, will abut in either direction of movement upwardly or downwardly, so as to be resisted and rebounded during the tilting movements forwardly and backwardly of each figure.

For the purpose of actuating each supporting bracket 10, and its fixedly connected figure, each bracket is provided with a downwardly extending arm 19 of any suitable form and material, as wire, fixedly connected withthe bracket in any siiitable way, as by a bolt 20 extending through the bottom, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, one end of the wire being inserted downwardly through the bottom of the bracket, as indicated at 21. Any other suitable means for positively securing the lever bracket may be utilized.

A controlling or actuating disk or wheel 22 is mounted by a bearing pivot or shaft 23 against a suitable support 24:, which constitutes a bearing and may conveniently. extend inwardly from the back wall of box 2, Wheel 22 being rotated by any suitable means. In the construction shown the periphery of the wheel is grooved, and it is driven by a cord or belt 25 engaging the pulley 26 of a suitable driving motor or crank 27. v

The operative face of wheel 22 is provided" with a series of studs. pins or abutments 28, which, as' shown in Fig. 2, are arranged irregularly around the face of the wheel, and are adapted tostrike against a terminal wheel 29 pivotally mounted at 80 in the end of each lever arm 19, sufficient clearance being provided between said arms so as to allow for ample movement back and forth.

Wheels 29 are preferably provided with a covering 31 of felt or other suitable cushioning material, whereby to cushion the impact and facilitate quiet operation. Pins 28 may be fixedly mounted in any preferred arrangement, as indicated in Fig. 2, or, if desired, the wheel 2 may be provided with radial series of holes 32, into which the pin 28 may be set inwardly or outwardly toward or from the center, as indicated in Fig. 6.

The construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and appreciated from the foregoing description. The wheel 22 may be rotated at any desired speed, or at variable speeds and, depending on the frequency of impact against wheels 29, will oscillate the figures 7 on the pivots 11, the pivoted limbs of the figures being thrust violently around their pivotal connections. Due to the irregularity of the impacts, because of the irregular arrangement of the pins, the motions imparted to the figures will be irregular and variable, resulting in great irregularity of the resulting movements of the swinging arms and legs, and will thus simulate in a somewhat grotesque manner the movements of two boxers in action. Lever arms 19 will tend to revert to their pendant position when thrust inwardly, and also by coming into contact with each other will cause a rebound, and will again come into contact with one or the other of series of pins 28, so that the irregularity of the movements will be constantly maintained.

If desired, a retracting spring 33 may be utilized, connected to arm 19 or the bracket 10 at one end and to the inner side of the casing at the other end, as shown, such spring being used for one or both levers as Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the I. What I claim is: 1. A device of the class described comprising a pivotally mounted figure, a lever arm fixedly connected therewith, and a series of abutting pins arranged rotatably around a pivotal center and at variable distances therefrom adapted to impart movement to the lever arm and figure.

2. A device of the class described comprising a pivotally mounted figure, a lever arm fixedly connected therewith, a series of irregularly arranged abutting pins rotatable around a pivotal center and at variable distances therefrom, and a retracting spring connected with said figure.

3. A device of the class described comprising a pivotally mounted figure, a lever arm fixedly connected therewith, and a controlling wheel provided with a series of contact pins extending from the face thereof at variable distances from its center adapted to engage said lever arm.

at. A device of the class described comprising a pivotally mounted figure having freely pivoted limbs, a lever arm fixedly connected with said figure having a terminal wheel, and an actuating wheel provided with a series of contact pins extending from the face thereof at variable distances from its center adapted to engage said terminal wheel.

5. A device of the class described comprising a pivotally mounted figure having freely pivoted limbs, limiting stops therefor, a lever arm fixedly connected with said figure having a terminal device, and an actuating wheel having a series of contact pins extending from the face thereof at variable distances from its center adapted to engage said terminal device.

6. A device of the class described comprising a pair of pivotally mounted figures confronting each other each having freely pivoted limbs, a lever arm fixedly connected to each of said figures having a terminal device, and an actuating element having a series of irregularly arranged contact pins adapted to engage said device.

7. A device of the class described comprising a pivotally mounted figure, a lever arm fixedlv connected therewith, a series of abutting pins irregularly arranged in a noncircular path adapted to impart movement to the lever arm and figure, and a retracting spring connected to the pivotally mounted figure.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS T. LOWMAN.

Witnesses:

XV. A. HECKMAN, C. M. CLARKE.

Commissioner 0! Patents,

Wa hing n, D. Q. 

